Four companies submitted responses to a request for qualifications (RFQ) to conduct a feasibility study for a downtown parking deck.

The Joint Parking Committee, composed of members of the Pope County Quorum Court, Russellville City Council and Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee, examined the portfolios at its monthly meeting on Friday.

The feasibility study will determine what the need is for parking downtown, how many spaces could benefit the area and whether some office space frontage should be included on the ground floor of the project. The committee also hopes to gain insight into what the economic impact of a parking deck would be and how the project could be funded.

Justice of the Peace Doug Skelton said all four of the respondents appeared qualified. The companies who responded to the RFQ were Crafton Tull of Little Rock; Whittenberg, Delony and Davidson of Little Rock; Desman Associates of Chicago, Ill.; and McGoodwin, Williams and Yates of Fayetteville.

Jimmy Street, chair of the Downtown Master Plan Steering Committee, suggested copies of each company's portfolio be sent to city and county officials, who would be given 30 days to review and submit comments to the committee.

In the meantime, each applicant would be sent a letter informing them they have been determined a competent candidate and requesting a cost estimate to conduct the study.

"Hopefully, by the next meeting, we'll be in a position to make an award," Shelton said.

The feasibility study is expected to be funded by the Pope County Law Library.